Keeping your family safe: Get the lead out

While “home sweet home” may be the place where most of us feel most comfortable, some people are living around a hazard they may be unaware of.

Most homes built before 1978 contain lead paint inside. When that paint chips, it creates a fine lead dust that is ingested by children, especially those under the age of six; young bodies easily absorb the dust.

Lead poisoning can cause physical and growth problems as well as behavioral issues. These health and developmental issues can last a lifetime.

The good news is that it’s easy to schedule testing for both a home and the children who live or frequently spend time there. In Hennepin County, whether you’re a parent, grandparent or someone who has children visit regularly, the first step to “getting the lead out” is to contact the Hennepin County Lead Removal Program.

The program provides free testing resources to cover the costs of clean-up and replacement of old, lead-painted windows frames and sills.

“We have a grant program that provides up to $15,000 for new windows and lead cleanup in the home. We want to make sure that homeowners and renters know that there are funds still available if they qualify for the program,” said Zoua Pha, senior planning analyst for the CDC led program for Hennepin County Housing and Development.

Pha and her team work to help families to stay informed about the dangers of lead exposure and to help them understand the importance of lead testing.

Once a homeowner or renter has contacted Hennepin County with a lead paint concern, Pha or a Hennepin County risk assessor goes to the home to conduct the testing. The simple process involves taking dust samples from floors, walls and window sills.

Risk assessors can check for lead on the spot by using an XRF device that gives an instant lead reading. Dust samples go to a lab; should they test positive, the resident is recontacted by the risk assessor who walks them through the clean-up process.

Risk assessors may also test other locations in the home or household items.

“You’d be surprised where we find lead around the home. We also test the soil if you live in the city, since leaded gasoline was common until the 1990s and can permeate the ground. Or what about spices in your kitchen that are exposed to the air? Toys that are kept close to an open window can be contaminated,” Pha said.

When it comes to testing children, the Hennepin County Lead Removal Program works closely with other organizations that ofer free blood testing. One of the partners, the Sustainable Resources Center, often holds public testing events. You can find those locations at src-mn.org.

To learn more about lead health hazards in the home or apply for a $15,000 Hennepin County lead removal grant, go to hennepin.us/lead or call 612-543-4182. Zoua Pha and her team review all the applications.